Truth and Deception

"What... do you want to do?"

Gu Shen was finally able to speak. 520 Official Website

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However, he heard his own voice, as if floating out of his chest, no longer belonging to himself.

"You have no right to ask questions."

What answered him was a cold reprimand.

The light above suddenly converged into an extremely hot, straight beam of light, enveloping Gu Shen completely.

In an instant, his soul felt like it was being doused with boiling water!

"On the day of the Fire Disaster Case, what means did you use to kill those two Transcendent ones?"

Han Dang stared intently at Gu Shen.

Under the scorching light, Gu Shen roared in pain, veins bulging on his forehead, he didn't want to speak.

But then, a furious voice resounded from the depths of his soul—

"Speak!"

[Truth, activate!]

With a bang, Gu Shen's entire head seemed to explode, as if an invisible palm was pressing his head firmly against the Tribunal Head's table.

He tried to resist the Truth.

But the sound squeezed out of his chest little by little uncontrollably, hoarsely like dry sand: "It's... a Sealed Item... I used a Transcendent Sealed Item..."

Han Dang stared coldly at Gu Shen.

In the Truth Domain, Gu Shen could not lie.

As expected, just as he had thought, Gu Shen himself did not have the strength to deal with those two Transcendent ones, he relied on external force.

"What kind of Sealed Item, where did you get it?" Han Dang spoke slowly and methodically, he slowly retreated from his furious state, and restored that gentle and refined face.

The surrounding dark riot slowly dissipated.

But the only thing that remained unchanged was that Gu Shen was still pressed on the table, his voice being squeezed out of his throat little by little.

"It's... a ruler... I got it from A-009..."

"A-009?"

Han Dang frowned, then suddenly understood.

The last doubt was cleared.

This was indeed the blind spot in his investigation. Han Dang had previously guessed that the "Transcendent Item" was something Gu Shen already possessed, so Gu Shen could survive the two Transcendent events that occurred one after another.

So that's how it is... Gu Shen obtained the Sealed Item from A-009 by chance.

"That fire attracted the attention of many people, so you hid the Sealed Item under the wooden planks in the corner of the rooftop stairs, and after the incident, you went to the Fire Disaster Case scene to retrieve it." Han Dang smiled and crossed his hands: "Gu Shen, I have to say... you are a courageous person. Is that ruler on you now?"

"..."

A long silence.

Gu Shen's voice no longer trembled.

"No... I put it in the bedroom of my apartment in Da Teng City."

"Oh?" Han Dang chuckled. "It seems you're not so smart after all, not carrying such an important item with you... Where in the bedroom is that ruler?"

He didn't notice the subtle change in Gu Shen's tone.

Nor did he see.

Above the bench behind Gu Shen, a snow-white dress floated, slowly swaying and falling in the dark space.

The girl overlapped with Gu Shen as she sat on the chair.

Under the effect of Truth, Gu Shen couldn't lie.

But... someone else could.

Chu Ling, who had established a Mental Link with Gu Shen, was an unconstrained observer in this Dream Realm. Neither Truth nor Awakening of Insects, nor any of the dream's rules, could apply to her.

This was the solution Gu Shen had come up with at the last moment to deal with Han Dang's interrogation.

This was the thirteenth day of Han Dang's investigation, and it had reached its final stage. He had an extremely strong suspicion of Gu Shen.

Therefore, facing this Soul Torture... even with the means of Mental Link, Gu Shen couldn't attempt to deceive him entirely with lies. The person in front of him was an extremely sharp and ruthless character. Once he realized that Gu Shen could lie within the Truth Domain, the situation would escalate to an unresolvable point.

So, he could only honestly confess the existence of the Truth Ruler.

He had to endure the suffering he deserved.

All for the sake of Han Dang lowering his guard, allowing for the final moment of Mental Link.

"I put the ruler in..."

Chu Ling's voice overlapped Gu Shen's, slow and drawn out, "The third drawer of the Bedroom Storage Cabinet."

Something was a little strange.

Gu Shen's aura had changed, becoming unlike himself.

Han Dang frowned slightly. He sensed a trace of abnormality, but quickly dismissed it as his own illusion. There was no way this kid could deceive him within the Truth Domain.

Now he had obtained the most important information, the location of that ruler—

A great success.

Finally... a choice was before him.

Han Dang only wanted to disrupt this audit.

There was no simpler or more direct way than to severely injure Gu Shen.

In the Dream Realm of Truth, I only need to wave my hand to make this kid lie in bed for three to five months.

But soon.

Han Dang abandoned this idea.

It wasn't that he didn't dare to do it, but that he didn't want to do it.

If I cripple Gu Shen, once this matter is exposed, it will be really troublesome. Mr. Shu's students are very united, and they might do something crazy... Just thinking of that crazy woman surnamed Luo, Han Dang felt a headache.

"Let's just leave it at this... Get the Ruler, submit it to the review team, and everything will be over."

The minute Han Dang silently pondered.

Was also a minute of dead silence in the Truth Dream Realm.

During this minute, Chu Ling remained in the state of Mental Link, without disconnecting, while Gu Shen was tortured by the long wait, his fate not in his own hands.

It could even be said that his life or death was at Han Dang's whim.

"Pa-ta."

Finally, Han Dang snapped his fingers.

He looked at Gu Shen, a smile blooming again on his cold face: "Okay, let's forget everything that happened here and return to reality. In reality, we will become friends at first sight."

It seemed like a long time had passed in the Truth Dream Realm.

However, in reality, the clock seemed to have only ticked once.

In the stairwell, the two men, solidified like stone sculptures, returned to normal.

Gu Shen scratched his head, "Mr. Han, did you just call me?"

"No."

Han Dang smiled gently, adjusting his glasses, "Could you have misheard?"

The landlady's eager voice sounded from below the stairwell: "Little Gu, the tea is ready. Quickly bring Little Han down..."

Han Dang picked up his briefcase, went downstairs to the landlady, bowed slightly, revealing that gentle and harmless smile: "Landlady, I have things to do. I won't bother you any longer."

The landlady stood there, somewhat awkwardly.

"This... We were having such a good chat, why are you leaving?"

She tried hard to wink at Gu Shen, wanting to figure out what had happened in the time it took to brew a pot of tea.

This was a big fat fish... oh no, a rare guest.

Gu Shen shook his head subtly, indicating that he didn't know anything.

The landlady quickly stepped forward and said with a smile, "Eh, eh, Little Han..."

"Landlady wants to ask about the sponsorship, right."

Han Dang smiled and said, "Please rest assured, sponsorship is definitely not a problem. Mr. Gu Shen and I hit it off right away, and we had a very pleasant chat just now, so I'll cover the cost of renovating the orphanage. Besides, I really like those flowers on the rooftop. There aren't many people like you in this era, and I hope the orphanage can continue to operate."

If Gu Shen hadn't read Han Dang's file in advance, hadn't personally experienced the Truth Dream Realm, and hadn't resisted hypnosis with the Mental Link...

Gu Shen would probably have really hit it off with this "Little Han."

And anyone would think that this is a positive, socially conscious, high-quality young man, with a generous demeanor and gentle manners.

"This is the first batch of sponsorship funds."

Han Dang took out a check from his suit pocket, wrote the amount of 100,000 yuan, and then signed his name. He looked at the grandmother's happy and excited smile and said with a smile, "I will continue to transfer money to the Morning Light Orphanage later."

"Thank you, thank you." The grandmother tugged at Gu Shen's sleeve and said, "Little Gu, don't just stand there."

Gu Shen quickly smiled and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Han."

The more kind and approachable Han Dang appeared in reality,

the more Gu Shen felt lingering fear and apprehension, having seen through everything.

Clearly, this man already possessed the Transcendent power to change thoughts in the Dream Realm, without needing to act or disguise himself, yet he still wore a mask, tirelessly enjoying people's admiration.

Which one, the Dream Realm or reality, is Han Dang's true self?

"You're welcome."

Han Dang smiled and patted Gu Shen on the shoulder, "I should be thanking you."

Seeing the "uncomprehending" confusion on Gu Shen's face, Han Dang smiled again, said nothing more, and left the orphanage with a light step, carrying his briefcase.